Spotted YOU

Notes:

Thanks a lot to Anouk who helped me improve the grammar of the previous chapters, I edited them with some of her suggestions.

I apologise for my awful English (I've been told so :'( ) , I'm italian, I just hope the story/the grammar makes sense, I really try my best. I write directly in English, without asking for any fu**ing AI's help... I proudly make mistakes on my own ^^'

WARNING: this chapter contains a rather NSFW scene about Dair, don't say I didn't warn you!

II: (Not so) Hard to get

                                                                                                                                                                                 Paris, Montmartre

“Well, Monsieur Bass, glad to hear about the first part… rather annoyed by the second one.” Marienne politely refuses his advances.

- Oh, dear my beautiful stranger, if you play hard to get it’s only even more fun for me. - Chuck sneers.

“Well, I’m afraid that in order to concretize the first part you’ll eventually have to accept to go out to dinner with me.” Chuck insists. “I mean, you can remain annoyed all the time you please as we discuss every point of my employment offer.”

“Are you always so smug, Monsieur Bass?” Marienne inquires, although she’s slightly amused.

“Of course I am, especially at dinners.” He smirks.

If only Jacqueline didn’t know she’d better keep her mouth shut, she would say those two are definitely flirting.

However, she manages to say something inappropriate.

“Hey, Marienne, it looks like this is just your luckiest painting.”

Marienne frowns.

“Why do you say so?”

“Because some days ago another guy asked about this painting of yours and many others.”

Marienne startles.

“Wait. Which… which guy?”
 

 “Another American, a bit older than Monsieur Bass here. He didn’t tell me his name, but he was so polite, so mild-mannered. He seemed so needy to know more about your art that I gave him your email address, warning him that maybe you wouldn’t answer immediately because you were at that art fair in…”

“London. Fuck. So, it’s your fault. It’s you who gave him that information…” She glares at her, visibly agitated.

“Well, yes, why are you so mad?I thought it was something nice to do for you, to support your art.”

“Fuck my art! You have no idea… he almost got me. It was such a nightmare…” She babbles incoherently.

Chuck  has preferred not to say anything but of course he noticed how nervous Marienne is growing.

“Marienne, please, calm down, let’s talk about this, maybe as we drink some Cointreau.. “ Jacqueline approaches her.

“No, stay away…” Marienne backs off, before turning to Chuck. “And you. Didn’t you want to take me to dinner? Let’s just go…”

Chuck knows she’s just using him as an excuse to part from her friend or whatever Jacqueline is to her, but he doesn’t complain.

Quite the contrary, he’s ready to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

“Sure, come with me, my chauffeur is waiting for us,” He leads her, turning the corner.

“I guess you mean a taxi…” Marienne corrects him, but once she’s inside a black Mercedes Benz class S with tinted windows and a chauffeur in uniform who greets her, she just has to reconsider her statement.

Even more when she finds out where Chuck has taken her.

“I…I guess I’ve never seen this place from so close… “ Marienne grumbles, growing nervous.

“And tonight you will experience it. Life can be full of surprises.” Chuck smirks, as they enter the Peninsula Hotel.

“I don’t even think I have the required dresscode.” She scoffs, staring at her blue jeans and a multicoloured shirt.”

“I think you’re perfect the way you are and that’s the only dresscode you have to respect.” He calms her down, as the elevator makes them reach the sixth floor, where there’s the Michelin star Oiseau Blanc restaurant.

Of course, Chuck gets one of the best tables, overlooking the Tour Eiffel, so close it seems they can touch it.

“Woah.” escapes from Marienne’s mouth, right before she reads the menu.

“So glad you like what you see, chèrie.” Chuck smirks.

His handsome look. His perfect hair. His elegance. The utter self-confidence with which he seems to do every single thing.

- I’m not so sure anymore if the view is the only thing I’m liking. - Marienne muses, a little frustrated.

As they taste foie gras and Boeuf Bourguignon Chuck talks about business for real, illustrating the project of an art gallery in his hotel.

“You’re talking me more and more into going to New York and witnessing the gallery, once it takes place, at least for the first weeks.” She considers.

“Good to know. I’m sure we’ll do great things together.”

-First in bed, then at my gallery. - He adds in his mind.

“Also because I guess I could move to a new town for a while and get some fresh air.” Marienne add, as she takes another forkful of that delicious meat.

Chuck appreciates how more talkative she became during their dinner.
Maybe it’s because speaking of her art and job made her more at ease.
Or maybe it’s the fourth glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape she’s drinking.

“You were right before, Chuck. Life can be full of surprises. Yesterday I doubted if I ever managed to come back to Paris and now… you’re offering me this great opportunity.” She smiles.

Chuck smiles back, but then he figures out better what she has just said.

“Wait. What do you mean that you weren’t sure if you would come back… did something bad happen?” He frowns.

“I passed out, the second after I got up on the train.” Marienne decides to confess.

“You what?!”

It’s only thanks to his aplomb if Chuck doesn’t let the glass he’s holding crash on the floor.

“Maybe it was only stress, or… something else I prefer not to think about. A plan someone schemed, a plan that didn’t end as he wished. The only important thing is that now I’m here, safe, far from him who remained in London… at least, I hope so.” She fridges in her seat. “Can I have some more wine?”

“Sure…” He fills another glass for her. “But… if I’m not too indiscreet; the sharp reaction you had before, when your friend revealed she gave that info to that stranger, and now what you just told me… Are these two things connected?”

Marienne gives out a nervous laugh, placing on the table the glass, empty, once again.

“You know whaaaat? If life taught me a lesson, it must be ‘don’t sleep with younger, obsessed guys, anymore’.” She states, her mind already less lucid than before.

“Well, in my defense, I can say I’m not obsessed at all.” Chuck states, very calmly.

“I’ve already slept with someone younger and turned out to be one of the worst decisions of my life… and you’re even younger than him!”

Chuck chuckles and stretches his arm to reach her hand.

“I may be young, but I’m so much more of a man than tons of thirty or forty year old assholes. And surely I know how to treat a lady and make her feel unique, just for a night.” He smiles at her, his fingers drawing small circles on the back of her hand.

It’s not just a pure art of seduction. There’s more.
For some reasons, Chuck is growing really fond of that beautiful artist with such an angsty past.
He wants to do something for her. He wants to make her feel safe.
And he has all kinds of resources to do so.
 

“Why do you have to be so charming and gorgeous?” escapes from a Marienne that had one too many and can’t filter her inner thoughts anymore.

Chuck smirks.

“Well, Marienne, if you’re done with the dinner, as I am, what about moving to my bedroom?”

--------------------------------------------------------  

                                                                                                                                                                  London, Canning Town
 

Joe is almost tempted to take his laptop and smash it against the wall, when it doesn’t give him the result he’ s searching for for the umpteenth time that night.

He ruffles his curly hair in frustration, as he lays down in that narrow and uncomfortable cot of that b&b he managed to find in the suburbs of London.

- Fuck, I’m running out of money and I really need to get a job and go back to a more decent way of life. - He muses. -But not before I get to find you again, creature of light.  Although I didn’t take any pictures, your graceful face is still fresh in my mind, I could recognize it among a million ones, if only a social profile showed it to me! And it’s not an easy task, when all I know about you is your name.- 

He tries to type ‘Serena Bradford’ in the Facebook search browser, but once again he doesn’t find anything of his interest.

Not only is he running out of all the surnames that start with ‘B’, Joe is mostly running out of his patience.

“I’m not going any-fucking-where with this!” He slams his laptop closed, frustrated.

He’s almost tempted to try a new kind of research, googling something like ‘Manhattan Serena, beautiful blonde’ but he calls himself stupid even for thinking that.

Joe can’t even begin to imagine how successful those keywords would be.

Send me a sign, let me know

Give me a time, a place I should go

Reach inside, watch me grow

See me rise

(‘Scene of the crime’ by Placebo)

- And London is twice as big as New York, which means it’s twice as hard to find you. If only I had a clue, a sign, some place that can give me the certainty to find you there… If only I had been faster when you gave my phone and checked your social profiles… - He sighs.

And then he reflects better.

-Wait a minute. Your latest generation i-phone model. Your very expensive i-phone model. -

Here’s the sign, here’s the clue Joe was waiting for.

-My photographic memory has never failed me. You had a prada trolley and all your outfit screamed d’haute couture. This could only mean one thing: you’re rich. And rich people treat themselves right. So, if you’re staying in a hotel, which I’m sure you are, it must be one of the most expensive, very well connected, with beautiful sights, close to the main points of interest… -

He opens his laptop again, this time for a different kind of research.

“Okay, The Ritz is the closest one to meet all of these expectations.” He muses out loud, getting ready to go to sleep, since it’s almost two o’clock in the morning.

The obsessive searching for Serena kept him busy all night.

-Tomorrow I’ll figure out if my instinct still works as well as when I was in New York, Los Angeles or Madre Linda. -

------------------------------------

Wearing a black jacket, matching his baseball hat, and a shoulder bag that has the only purpose of making it seem that he’s about to have a job interview, bright and early, Joe heads towards his goal.

He takes him something more than a couple of hours of walking, but Joe doesn’t mind that kind of activity.

Walking just keeps his mind more active.

Once he arrives in St. James Park, he sits on a bench that faces a beautiful view of Tamigi and a glimpse of the London Eye.

He takes his time to admire the landscape and rest a little after the long walk.
Just a few minutes more and then he’ll get up, in order to place himself in front of the Ritz, in the least stalking way possible.

Joe  just has no idea how close he is to finding her.

****************** (in the meantime)

The usual Serena would probably spend the whole day between Oxford Street and Bond Street, inside the most beautiful high fashion stores, shopping all her sadness away.

But the Serena of that morning is more keen to something more spiritual, reconnecting with nature.
And what perfect chance, since her hotel is just a short walking distance from one of the most amazing parks.

She chooses the side that faces Buckingham Palace and sits there for a while, with an open book on her lap.
No matter how much effort she's putting into reading it, her mind is just too crowded with thoughts.

- Maybe I’ve just been too harsh yesterday at the station, with that Jonathan guy… I mean, it’s not his fault if he looks like Dan so much. He may have… practically his very same face, but not his behaviour. There was something so charming about Jonathan. He seemed so kind, caring… and his cavalier manner. While Dan is so much messier, even goofy sometimes; but also chaotic and not hesitant at all to hurt me with his merciless outspokenness. His words and his judgemental gazes are more lethal than any weapon. - She ponders, as she tries to re read the paragraph, uselessly.

-I just have to look for Jonathan again, even if just to apologize to him, so then I can leave for Reading more light-heartedly… - She decides, closing the book and getting up.

- Okay, just… how? Think, Serena, think. He said that yesterday he was waiting for a job interviewer, there at the station… Maybe he could be there even today, for another interview. I have to check. -

She’s storming out of the park so determined and focused on her goal that she doesn’t even seem to notice a certain guy who’s coming from the opposite direction, heading to the ritz.

But not only that certain guy did notice her, he also can’t believe his luck.

- There you are, my creature of light!- He beams, right before acting with nonchalance.

“Serena?” He calls her.

She startles and turns to him.

“Jonathan!” She grins, moving towards him. “What are you doing here?”

“I was about to have another job interview, this time at The Ritz.” Joe plays his character flawlessly.

“Oh, it’s the hotel where I’m staying!” She grins, even more. “What a funny coincidence.”

“The funniest ever.” Joe smiles as innocently as he can.

- Bingo!- he celebrates in his deviant mind.

“Actually, Jonathan, I was on my way to the station, wishing to meet you there again. You could say I was about to return to the crime scene!” Serena admits with a little, nervous giggling. “I wanted to apologise to you. ”

Scene of the crime, the star of the show

If you were mine, then we would know

The peace of mind and seeds that we sow are intertwined

We almost made it

But making it was overrated
 

(‘Scene of the crime’ by Placebo)

Joe’s mind already recorded the first part of her speech and saved it in ‘best memories’ file.

- You were looking for me! So I’m not alone in that, our meeting meant something for you as well. The threads of our souls are already working together to create a bond and who are we to dare to break it? -

“You didn’t hear me Jonathan, did you?” Serena chuckles, waving a hand in front of him.

“Huh.. nope, my bad. I was busy trying to figure out which book is peeping out from your bag.” Joe finds a believable excuse.

“Oh! It’s ‘Beautiful and Damned’ , I’ve reread it a million times. It’s just my comfort book.”

- And you even have a great taste in books. Could you be any more special, creature of light?-

“Oh, that’s a great choice. I’ve read it more than once as well. Actually, I used to work in a rare bookstore. I know a thing or two about books.” He smiles.

- Geez, not another book lover! Nope, Serena, don’t let these lame coincidences stop you!-

“Cool. However, I was saying before… Would you like me to go with you to the Ritz? So, once you’re done with your interview, if you want, we can spend some time together… from an American in a foreign town to another American in a foreign town.” She innocently suggests.

“Sounds great, but nope.” Joe strikes back, rushes to give her an explanation once he sees the disappointment in her face. “I mean, I would absolutely love the part where we get to spend some time together and know each other better; but there’s no need for you to walk me to the Ritz now. It’s such a sunny day, it would be just a pity to make you stay in the hotel for me.”
 

- Also because no one is waiting for me there for no existing job interview!-

“Oh. Alright then, I’ll keep enjoying this beautiful sunny day outside, and maybe we can catch up later, let’s say in a couple of hours?”

“This is such a good plan, Serena.” He smiles at her. “Why don’t we meet each other in front of the British Museum?”

“Okay, but let’s do something even better.” She takes a pen and a post it blocknotes from her bag. “Here’s my number. So we’ll stay in each other's sights.” 

Joe smiles at her, as he stores the number in his phonebook, before ringing to her.

- Oh, Serena. Now that I have your number, I don’t need your surname anymore. For now. And it’s time I search for a job for real. -

--------------------------------------------- 

                                                                                                                                                              New York, Upper East Side

“Oh God, yes, Daaaaaan, a bit more on … yeeaaah, exactly there!” Blair reclines her head back, biting her lips, slave of the pleasure her boyfriend is giving her.
 

She grabs his curls, in the attempt to push him even closer.

She really can’t get enough of him.

As he can’t get enough of her.

He licks and sucks the very most intimate part of her his way, driving her crazy.

Every of her moans, every of her sudden movements, even the slightest one, for Dan is an invitation to go on and on, until he can taste her sweet ambrosia as the last of the Gods of the Olympus.

After an amount of time Blair is not lucid enough to quantify, Dan resurfaces from under the sheets.

He kisses her and she doesn’t mind tasting herself from his oh-so-biteable lips.
 

“You know, Dan, when you told me the editors will let you publish ‘Monarch of Manhattan’ now that you fixed the plagiarism issue; I thought we would have celebrated in a nice place, outside… but I appreciated a lot even this way.” she smirks, kissing the tip of his nose.

“An island in a tropical paradise. The awards ceremony where I pick up my Nobel Prize for Literature. Even being part of the Dead Poets Society. Even compared to all of this, the best place ever where I wish I could stay forever is between your thighs, Blair.”

“Well, I can’t do much for the Nobel and the Dead Poets Society, but we could escape on an island together.” Blair approves, caressing his shoulders. “But coming back to the present time, honey, what you just did has some consequences: I want you, Dan. Take me now. Make love to me.”

Dan smiles, kissing her as he places her on his lap, the hot closeness getting him hard for her almost instantly.

But quick is just the opposite of the good time they enjoy together; Blair’s bedroom filled with their moans, pants and aromas.

“Just what I needed to take my mind away.” Blair grins satisfied, parting from him.

“Are you still worried for Serena, right?” Dan guesses, as they dress again.

“How couldn’t I be? It’s been more than three days since I’ve heard from her, her phone is unreachable, she probably must have blocked us all, again.”

“Again?” Dan frowns.

“Yeah. You weren’t here when Serena went to that college for all the summer… She is so good at disappearing, when she wants to. But she’s my best friend, I need her, I need to know that she’s fine.” Blair sighs.

Dan is close to her the moment after, hugging her.

“There, there. I’m sure she’s fine, she can take care of herself. And part of taking care of herself is to be aware that she needed some time on her own.”

“But it’s our fault, Dan. It’s like we pushed her away. We are the cause of her unhappiness.”

“No, Blair, it’s different. We are the cause of our mutual happiness and it’s something we can't deprive ourselves from to make someone else happy; mostly because said someone else wouldn’t be happy anyway.” He tries to make her reason. “I loved Serena, a lot, but things between us didn’t work and I can’t force myself to love her again, it wouldn't be right for Serena, for me and for you.”

“I know, but…”

Dan holds her hand and kisses it.

“It’s you who I want to make things work with. Will you allow me to?” He murmurs.

Blair cups his face and kisses him, slowly, sweetly, for a long time.

“I… I Dan you.”

Dan chuckles and raises his eyebrow.

“You what?!”

Blair slaps his shoulder.

“Hey, Mr. Nobel-Winner-Wannabe, you’re not the only one with a stunning language property!” She makes him smile. “The meaning is that I love how you make me feel protected, special, how you indulge me, but at the same time you really help me become a better person.”

Dan beams, caressing her hair.

“So, I guess this should bring me to say: ‘I Blair you.’ And I do: I love the way you’re giving me room in your heart, a spot that I can feel it’s becoming larger and larger, day after day.”

“It’s true.” She nods, caressing his forearm.

“And I love how we’re discovering new things about each other, gradually. And I love the constant challenge you’re to me.” He winks at her.

Contrary to Blair, Dan wouldn’t have any trouble saying ‘I love you’ to her; he knows he's been in love with her since when they worked together at W.
And Blair does know as well.

She takes both of his hands in hers, as she stares at him, mirroring herself into his big eyes.

“Dan, we say that we make love, we call each other ‘love’ sometimes… but we haven’t said that openly to each other yet. You know how much time and effort it took me to say that to… “

“Chuck. Oh, c’mon, Blair, you can say his name, it doesn’t hurt me.” He chuckles, but he’s only wearing a mask.

-Instead it does. A lot. I know we’re still far away from what you and Chuck had. I know how much you were invested in him. Maybe a part of you still is. A part of you always will. -

“But I will say it to you, too. I just need a little time.” She assures him, deciding that a kiss can be even more convincing.

“Just keep Daning me in the meantime.” Dan smiles against her soft lips, before deepening the kiss.

“I do.” She murmurs, resting her head on his chest, as he switches off the lamp on the bedside table.

“Blair?” Dan calls her in the dark, well aware she’s not asleep yet.

“Mm’”

“Do you think that me spending some quality time between your legs twice a day would somehow make the time you say you need a tad shorter?"

Blair chuckles.

“That’s a very interesting theory, Humphrey. I guess we should test it.”

She giggles when she feels his hand try to pull her panties down from the deep blue kimono nightgown she wears.
She even help him with that, until the panties are gone and his fingers are already toying inside her, very well knowing how to move.

“And I guess we should start testing it now, Waldorf.” Dan approves, before disappearing under the sheets.

“Daaaaaaaaaaan!”

TBC